opposition party leader Sam Rainsy ( left) and president of Human Right Party Mr. kem sokha ( photo: courtesy)
PHNOM PENH: Opposition parties in Cambodia announced today before their supporters that they had agreed to merge before general election2013 to compete the ruling Cambodian People’s Party led by prime Minister Hun Sen.
Main Opposition leader Sam Rainsy will become their president of alliance group if they merge. but Sam Rainsy has faced with court cases and the court was sentenced and he was chosen self-exile in France in case of uprooting panned border markers between Cambodia and Vietnam and destroying public property. the election body of Cambodia ( NEC) said recently that Mr. Sam Rainsy did not have qualification for a candidate for lawmakers for upcoming general election due to prisoner unless he was pardoned from Cambodian king Norodom sihamoni.
according to their joint statement, President of Human Right Party, Mr. Kem Sokha will become vice president. But the real date of merging alliance is unclear yet. “While the new party is being formed, the SRP and the HRP have decided to set up the Cambodia Democratic Movement for National Rescue, to unite all patriotic and democratic forces so as to begin immediately to fulfill our national mission, “it stresses. In election law, merged political parties will lose all seats in the parliament. Cambodia plans to conduct general election on July 28, 2013.
In meetings between the SRP, led by its president Sam Rainsy, and the HRP, led by its president Kem Sokha, in Manila on July 16 and 17, 2012, they released joint that statements:
“The SRP and the HRP will unite in accordance with the Khmer people’s will in order to save Cambodia by bringing about political change to put an end to a dictatorship serving destructive foreign interests.” the statement. that is the allegation of government.
“The two parties will merge to form a new party that will unite all patriots and democrats so as to establish a democratic regime that will properly defend our national interests.” The statement adds.
“The two parties will push for the holding of free, fair and genuine elections that will peacefully lead to the desired democratic change.” it said.
it continued: The two parties absolutely insist on a change in the composition of the National Election Committee and an overhaul of the current complicated election procedures that make voting unnecessarily difficult. But NEC said subsequently it had complied with the laws.
“ The two parties absolutely insist on the free and full participation of the leader of the opposition in the election process, so as to make any election legitimate and acceptable.”They suggested.
They also demand that the authorities stop using the judiciary to harass political opponents and human rights defenders.
The two parties will ensure close cooperation between recently elected leaders and members of commune councils who are party members in order to improve the efficiency of local governments and to promote democracy at the grassroots level, it stresses.
(SEA WEEKLY)
